National Chamber of Exporters briefing for new Lankan Ambassadors, High Commissioners

The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) organised a meeting with the Ambassadors and High Commissioners designate and 20 other Diplomatic personnel at the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) Auditorium last week, where members of the NCE were also present.  

From left: Rasa Weerasingham - Executive Director NCE, KarunatilakaAmunugama – Secretary to the Minister of External affairs, Janaka Ratnayak – Chairman EDB, Prof. G L Peiris – Minister of External Affairs, Sarath de Silva – President NCE, Patrick Amarasinghe – Founder President NCE, Rohan Fernando – Past President NCE, Dr.JagathPeiris – Senior Vice President NCE

At the outset, Sarath de Silva, President NCE welcomed Prof. G L Peiris and the Ambassadors/High Commissioners designate, Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs, Karunatilaka Amunugama and other distinguished guests.

Prof. G L Peiris, Minister of External Affairs addressed the gathering.  He emphasised to the Ambassadors/High Commissioners (Designate) their role in promoting Sri Lanka by convincing their respective countries relating to the stability and peaceful environment in Sri Lanka.  He added that they should make every effort to ensure that there is an influx of tourists to Sri Lanka.

  He also emphasised the need to promote exports from Sri Lanka into their respective countries in view of the Government target to achieve USD 20 billion by year 2020.

Janaka Ratnayake, Chairman of EDB briefed them regarding the Expo Fair which is to be held in March 2012.  This was followed by a Power Point presentation.

Geoffrey Tillekeratne, Director - Member Services of the NCE also made a Power Point presentation highlighting the activities of the Chamber and the areas in which assistance was required from the foreign missions to promote trade, particularly exports.  For this purpose the Chamber distributed soft copies of the data base of the membership of over 450 exporters to the Ambassadors/High Commissioners.  Some member companies also handed over their promotional material to the Ambassadors.

During the interactive session, amongst other suggestions the Ambassador designate to Italy, Asitha Perera emphasised the importance for the EDB to station interpreters conversant in the language of important markets to facilitate trade exchanges.

This meeting was followed by fellowship.